SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

Applications will be accepted from US Citizens. Due to a recent change in Federal Appropriations Law, only Non-Citizens who are permanent US residents and actively seeking citizenship can be considered. Therefore, you are required to provide documentation that confirms you are actively seeking citizenship at the time you submit your application. Non-citizens who do not provide documentation will not be considered.

SECURITY CLEARANCE:

Public Trust - Background Investigation

SUPERVISORY STATUS:

No

JOB SUMMARY:

The NSF is seeking qualified candidates for a permanent full-time Program Director position in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE), Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), Arlington, VA. The ideal candidate will have expertise in physics, physics undergraduate education and knowledge of physics education research.

EHR is responsible for programs that strengthen STEM education at all levels and in all settings across the U.S. in order to support the development of a diverse, well-prepared workforce of scientists, engineers and educators who work to enhance the quality of life, health and prosperity of all citizens. The DUE within EHR focuses on the promotion of excellence in undergraduate STEM for all students. It supports programs and activities that develop and distribute effective pedagogy and educational materials, stimulate and support research on learning, promote scientific literacy, and foster connections across all education levels.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

KEY REQUIREMENTS

DUTIES:

The Physics Education Program Director will coordinate the management of physics undergraduate education proposals and awards in DUE programs; participate in all phases of the solicitation, review and management of proposals submitted to assigned programs; conduct post-award monitoring of funded projects, including site visits and review of annual and final reports; represent DUE at professional meetings and conferences; conduct analyses and prepare reports and internal budget plans for programs and other EHR and DUE activities; contribute to the Foundation-wide coordination of scholarly activities for undergraduate STEM education; provide leadership in broadening participation in STEM disciplines and in undergraduate STEM education; and represent the division in cross-directorate and interagency initiatives related to physics undergraduate education, including measures to keep both the content and teaching approaches current in and conforming with contemporary advances with in the science and with current STEM education research findings.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in physics plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of experience in physics education at the undergraduate level. Individuals must have experience and demonstrated scholarship in physics research as well as in physics-related undergraduate STEM education practice and/or research.

The individual selected must be able to interact on a peer basis with senior scientific and managerial personnel throughout NSF, other Federal agencies, academia, and the private sector.

The ability to build bridges with the NSF Directorates is a necessity in order to help coordinate education efforts.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and research relevant to the duties of the position. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS

1. Experience and demonstrated scholarship in physics research as well as physics-related undergraduate STEM education practice and/or research.

2. Ability to design, plan, coordinate and manage a complex portfolio and program deliverables to achieve organizational objectives.

3. Ability to manage an externally-reviewed proposal-driven grants program, allocating resources to meet a spectrum of program goals.

4. Research, analytical, presentation, and technical writing skills that evidence the ability to communicate effectively with representatives from the undergraduate STEM community to develop and advocate programs, policies, and plans.

5. Ability to interact, on a peer basis, with senior scientific and managerial personnel throughout NSF, other Federal agencies, academia and the private sector. To preview questions please click here.

BENEFITS:

A GREAT LOCATION! The National Science Foundation is conveniently located one block from the Ballston Metro Station, a few blocks from Routes 66 and 50, and about three miles from downtown Washington. Employees may rent parking spaces in the building garage. There are many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. Employees receive the Federal benefits package and NSF offers:

Pre-tax parking Public transportation subsidy Child Development Center on site Child care subsidy Flexible working hours Telecommuting Physical Fitness Facility on site NSF Federal Credit Union on site Health Services Unit on site Employee Assistance Program

OTHER INFORMATION:

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the closing date of the job announcement. You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

If you do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility, you will not obtain civil service status if selected. If you are currently in the competitive civil service, you will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected.

HOW TO APPLY:

Your application should be submitted online and must be completed and all required documents successfully faxed or uploaded before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the closing date. You must answer all of the job-related questions to ensure full consideration for this position. For more detailed information, please review our NSF eRecruit Frequently Asked Questions.

WARNING! Applications submitted online must have a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

If you are unable to apply electronically, please use the Contact Information below for special instructions on how to submit your application materials. Hearing impaired individuals may call TDD (703) 292-5090 for assistance.

IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-Citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.

You are strongly encouraged to submit a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.

We also ask that you complete and submit the Applicant Survey Form. This will help NSF to ensure that our recruiting efforts are attracting a diverse candidate pool; it will be used for statistical purposes only.

You can fax or upload your letter of recommendation(s) or the individual(s) can email the letter of recommendation(s) to adsearch@nsf.gov; please ask him/her to put your name and the job announcement number in the subject line.

Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials.

All faxing/uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.If you are faxing your information, please use extreme care in dialing the fax number to assure we receive your information. You will receive an email confirmation of receipt of your faxed/uploaded document(s).

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Shortly after the announcement closes, you will be notified as to whether or not you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you do, you will receive further consideration and evaluation. If the position is in the bargaining unit, and your application is referred to the selecting official, you will be contacted for an interview. Interviews for positions not in the bargaining unit may be conducted at the discretion of the selecting official. All qualified applicants will receive final notification of the outcome of the job opportunity announcement.

You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website.